Infiltration Maintenance in Recharge Facilities of Orange County Water District

Richard, Nereus L.; ,

Infiltration Maintenance in Recharge Facilities of Orange County Water District

by Nereus L. Richard, Orange County Water District, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Artificial Recharge of Ground Water

Abstract:

The Orange County Water District manages the Orange County ground water basin in western Orange County. In the first 25 years of operation, the District made exclusive use of the Santa Ana River with a furrow and/or sand-diking operation. In the history of the District the operations have switched from a river spreading operation consisting of furrow and sand dikes to deep basins (50 feet) and ponds of moderate depth of 8-15 feet. Currently, the District is making intense efforts to evaluate all of its recharge facilities to combat the ever-continuing clogging process caused by silt, algae, and bacterial action. Various techniques for maintenance of infiltration have been evaluated. The District has also constructed two barriers along the coastline to block intrusion of sea water into fresh water aquifers and has implemented an extensive ground water quality protection programs. Further, expansion of recharge operations are developed on a tributary stream known as Santiago Creek. The new basins on Santiago Creek are existing gravel pits 150 feet deep, and instead of being in a sand operation they are in a cobble stone/sand with silt layers.

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